Burnout?

[Homer Ref]

7 games in 2 weeks and yesterday I was really struggling in an U14 game. It was as though my legs didn't belong to me and I was lucky if I could keep up with play - less than I usually do. Home and bath with some epsom salts and a sleep. I missed a couple of things I had to do the rest of the day because I was just so tired and sore. Sunday and I feel a bit better, but contemplating that while I love refereeing in the short time I have been doing it I need to look at the fact that at 52 I need to keep it realistic and calm down with so many games. I should have taken it up a long time ago, but didn't.

Carpe Diem to the folks who are thinking about it right now.

Do it!

 

[santa sangria]

Might not agree apply but has come up before - can be a mistake to think that you can referee yourself fit. YMMV of course.

I’m 51 and do a lot of matches. I’m religious about warming up. It’s brilliant that you are so enthusiastic. It’s worth learning about your lower body (sports physio, PT?) so that you can look after yourself, warm up right and recover better. It’s a horrible spiral to ache for 2-3 days after each match - you can beat it!

 

[FirsFox40]

I’ve said it on a recent post (Gabriel, I think), but I struggle this time of year. Four months in, I’ve already checked off 60 matches, plus RA meetings, plus training, plus CORE, plus fitness test, plus matchday coaching and observing… and when the clocks go back and the weather gets a bit crap on a Saturday… the motivation just sinks. Things that didn’t hurt a month ago, oooh, yeah, they now do - a calf niggle, hamstring a bit tight etc, even my kitbag just feels heavier.

Never really known what the solution is, just something I accept comes about now, and I’ll close a week and reset the batteries. I miss every single second of the Saturday, the Sunday, and that Tuesday I have “off” but a full week of NO football does the trick.

Like you said, empathy with any colleagues having a slump this time of year, feels completely natural. Weird time of me work-wise too, as we’re pretty seasonal and the clunk of changing gears into the next phase is about now. All them little Lego bricks to accidentally tread on if you’re not 100%.

Little break, recharge, go into Xmas, then come out the other side when the days start to get longer again, and then the plum appointments hopefully come through.

Edit: I’d add that every appointments secretary I’ve ever worked with has always been accepting when you just say that, honestly, you need a break.

Edit 2: Excellent advice above with warm-up (AND cool down), can overcome some minor issues by treating your body right.

 

[OldNavyRef]

@RonnieM I was extremely similar to you. Took it to the extreme at the start. Would try and do a midweek. 2 on a sat and one Sunday.

So 4 a week. Occasionally an extra game could creep in somewhere.

Now I do 1 or 2 a week. Keeping Sunday for myself best I can.

Just a better tempo. However, I did really enjoy doing a lot of games.

Just sometimes less is more. When I was smashing lots of games out I mainly suffered from concentration.

 

[Gamespoiler]

I used to do 2 on a sat and 1 or 2 on a Sunday. A midweek one would be a welcome addition. However, since Covid, that’s having it quite bad, I’ve never had the same energy levels or enthusiasm for it and do just the 1 game on a Saturday and really enjoy it. Was it covid or is it because now the wrong side of 50, 54 the legs just won’t do what they used it without complaining about it

 

[RustyRef]

Think it about it logically, generally a referee who keeps himself close to play and in optimum positions will cover more distance than most, if not all, of the players. A player would probably struggle to be at their best playing in four 90 minute games a week, so stands to reason that a referee would as well.

 

[FirsFox40]

Think it about it logically, generally a referee who keeps himself close to play and in optimum positions will cover more distance than most, if not all, of the players. A player would probably struggle to be at their best playing in four 90 minute games a week, so stands to reason that a referee would as well.

This is a huge point I make to new / younger refs. No player does three games on a Sunday, one midweek etc.

If you’re on the ball and doing the job right, match the level of fitness and training that you’re refereeing at.

Centre circle isn’t the ref zone.

 

[santa sangria]

I’ve said it on a recent post (Gabriel, I think), but I struggle this time of year. Four months in, I’ve already checked off 60 matches, plus RA meetings, plus training, plus CORE, plus fitness test, plus matchday coaching and observing… and when the clocks go back and the weather gets a bit crap on a Saturday… the motivation just sinks. Things that didn’t hurt a month ago, oooh, yeah, they now do - a calf niggle, hamstring a bit tight etc, even my kitbag just feels heavier.

Never really known what the solution is, just something I accept comes about now, and I’ll close a week and reset the batteries. I miss every single second of the Saturday, the Sunday, and that Tuesday I have “off” but a full week of NO football does the trick.

Like you said, empathy with any colleagues having a slump this time of year, feels completely natural. Weird time of me work-wise too, as we’re pretty seasonal and the clunk of changing gears into the next phase is about now. All them little Lego bricks to accidentally tread on if you’re not 100%.

Little break, recharge, go into Xmas, then come out the other side when the days start to get longer again, and then the plum appointments hopefully come through.

Edit: I’d add that every appointments secretary I’ve ever worked with has always been accepting when you just say that, honestly, you need a break.

Edit 2: Excellent advice above with warm-up (AND cool down), can overcome some minor issues by treating your body right.

October always brutal for me - as it’s when our season ends. And darkness comes. The drop off from doing 4-5-6 matches a week to doing zero and then a few weeks later (now) 1-2 futsal matches is insane. All my body chemicals go crazy like some kind of teenager!